Burnet Primitive Baptist Church

Church History

A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

On March 23, 1975, a group of Primitive Baptist believers desiring to assemble together in the small Texas town of Burnet met for the first time in the Bethel Community Building. This facility was eight miles east of Burnet on Highway 963. Elder Boyd Chambers was the minister and preached every 4th Sunday.

The authority of this fellowship resulted from an arm being extended by the Abilene Primitive Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas. Bro. Lamar Bear, deacon, was voted by Abilene Primitive Baptist Church to serve as assistant clerk. His function was to report monthly of these meetings. According to the records, the meetings were very spiritual and enjoyed growing attendance and interest.

On February 15, 1976, the eight charter members requested their letters be granted from Abilene Primitive Baptist Church to be placed in a newly organized Burnet Primitive Baptist Church. The constitution service was conducted on March 27, 1976. The eight members were Elder Boyd Chambers and his wife Sister Henrietta Chambers, Bro. Cody Chambers, Deacon-Bro. Lamar Bear and his wife Sister Josephine Bear, Sister Doris Bear, Deacon-Bro. Floyd Cogburn and his wife Sister Elsie Cogburn.

A presbytery was assembled consisting of six elders and ten deacons. All six elders took an active part in the service. Elder Boyd Chambers was elected as Moderator of the meeting and Elder Weldon Walker served as clerk of the presbytery. Elder Richard Martin was chosen to read the Articles of Faith. Elder Norman A. Cooper was elected to read the Rules of Decorum followed by Elder J. P. Dale who was selected to read the Church Covenant. Elder Dale prayed the Constitution prayer followed by Elder Marvin W. Smith delivering the charge to the new church body. The meeting was reported to be very Spiritual.

The deacons sitting on the presbytery were Brothers Loyd Beathgy, Elton Faught, Clifford Parar, Roy Lee, Willie Beathgy, Richard Trindale, W.S. Robinson, Palmer Sanders, L.M. Roberts, and R.L. Fuller.

This new church body was blessed to purchase and sign the deed for a plot of land to build the new building in December, 1977. On June10, 1979, the church met for the first time in a building started on the land. Almost two years later, on May 23, 1981, the church enjoyed meeting in the new auditorium, yet still unfinished. Finally, less than five years from the purchase of the lot, the church dedicated the finished building to the worship of the Lord Jesus on May 29, 1982 while enjoying a good Fifth Sunday meeting. The church continues to meet in this location at the present date.

Elder Boyd Chamber was a charter member and first pastor, serving the church faithfully and with much zeal from March, 1976 until he resigned due to health reasons on November 26, 1995. Elder Chambers remained a faithful member and served well until his death on April 4, 1998. The loss of Elder Boyd is still felt today in this congregation which remembers him with sadness of the loss, yet with great thankfulness for the gift of this faithful servant which served as pastor for almost 20 years.

Elder Don Washek came to Burnet from the Lampasas Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Washek began to exercise in the ministry, coming up under the close observance of Elder Chambers for several years. Elder Don was ordained to the full work of the ministry on September 5, 1992. He continued to exercise his gift at Burnet as well as serving as pastor of Comanche Primitive Baptist Church in Comanche, Texas. When Elder Chambers resigned, Elder Don accepted the call to pastor Burnet on December 24, 1995. Bro. Don continued until he resigned in March, 2001 to move to Waco, Texas. On July 22, 2001, the church called the present pastor, Elder Bill Moseley.

Burnet Primitive Baptist Church has enjoyed many great gifts. There have been two clerks. The first clerk was Bro. Lamar Bear, deacon, which served from March 27, 1976 until March 26, 1995. Sister Jewell Faught has served from March 26, 1995 until the present.

Burnet has been blessed with eight wonderful dedicated deacons over the past 25 years. Bro. Lamar Bear and Bro. Floyd Cogburn were charter members. Other deacons over the years have been Bro. Troy Harrison, Bro. W.D. Hammetta, Bro. Johnie Bass, Bro. Fain Beeman, Bro. Gerald Johnson, Bro. Bob Weitner, and Bro. Clyde Faught.

Burnet has ordained three deacons. Bro. Gerald Johnson was ordained May 24, 1986. Bro. Bob Weitner and Bro. Clyde Faught were ordained together on September 28, 1991.

Elder Boyd Chambers died on April 4, 1998. He was 76 years old. His birth date was Feb 18, 1921.

There have been many faithful members join Burnet Primitive Baptist Church. Many have departed for other places. Many have gone on to be with the Lord. They will remain greatly missed by the present membership. In 2002, we were saddened at the loss of two much loved members, Bro. Bob Weitner, Deacon, and Sister Lona Linton. We will greatly miss them both, but we know they are at this time in the presence of the Lord. The following are members of Burnet Primitive Baptist Church.